KATHERINE LEITH Columnist
"Why didn't you answer? You're ignoring me!"
These words are heard all too often. The first person asked a question and the second one answered. Unfortunately, it wasn't heard. This type of miscommunication has had a negative impact on many relationships. The result may not only be misunderstandings, but the hard of hearing person may tend to participate less and less in social events in which she once delighted.
In addition, there is a sense of dependency on other people to make telephone calls, find out information, etc., which can be very frustrating. One person described her hearing loss as, "I hear, but I don't understand." Some people miss words in everyday speech, which changes the context, or it may even sound like a foreign language.
Many people don't know what assistive devices are currently available and how technology has changed. In February 2005, help became available to people in North Carolina on limited incomes through the North Carolina Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program.
Single people with a gross income of $22,450 or less and married couples with an income of $30,300 or less should consider applying to receive, at no cost, a hearing aid (either one that goes in the ear or one that goes behind it). All of them have a telecoil or t-coil, which can make a dramatic difference in the ability to hear clearly on a hearing aid compatible telephone or assistive listening device.
The program has no age limit, so children can qualify. For more information or an application, call the North Carolina Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program (NCTEDP) at (800) 999-5737 (voice/TTY) or fax (919) 773-2981. Applications can be obtained from their Web site at www.relaync.com. The Chapel Hill Senior Center has a computer for the public's use, as do most libraries.
People can also apply for a CapTel (captioned, amplified telephone) from North Carolina Relay. In addition to functioning as a regular telephone, the CapTel telephone comes with a visual display so that you can hear your caller's voice and see captions of everything your caller says. This is called speech recognition technology and is particularly useful for hard of hearing or people who miss words or parts of words.
After dialing a call, the CapTel will automatically connect to the CapTel Center. To receive calls, the caller dials the CapTel Center and then your phone number. This enables both parties to carry on a "normal" conversation and gives the hard of hearing person the ability to function more independently than he could otherwise.
CapTel is provided at no cost to qualified applicants, who must show proof of hearing loss and have an analog line. For more information, contact the North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing at (800) 999-5737, fax (919) 773-2981 or www.relaync.com.
The 1990 Television Decoder Circuitry Act required all television sets with screens 13 inches or greater to have a decoding chip to make them capable of displaying closed-caption television transmission. Many people's TV sets have this capability but they don't know it -- check your remote control or menu for 'cc' to turn the captions on.
Likewise, an assistive listening system (usually infrared) can be connected to the TV with an "audio out." The user simply adjusts the volume on the receiver.
Another device available from NCTEDP alerts people when the telephone or doorbell rings, or the alarm clock goes off. How does it work? The notification system is connected to a bright lamp that flashes on and off. You can have several placed around the house.
Many of us have voice mail on our telephones that take messages when we're not available. However, retrieving these messages can be impossible for someone who is hard of hearing. There's a program available over the Internet, through Relay North Carolina, which will help solve this problem. Go to www.sprintrelayonline.com and follow the prompts until you get to the one to have your voice messages retrieved. The messages will be typed so that you can see them on your computer screen and make the appropriate responses.
In addition to devices, support groups are very important. Self Help for Hard of Hearing (SHHH) has a chapter that meets at the UNC Hearing and Communication Center the third Monday of the month. Call Ruth Miller at 967-9955 (ruthmiller@mac.com) for more information.
Several years ago a woman told me that hearing aids are only for people with a lot of money. Thank goodness that's not true in North Carolina!
Joan and John Black of Tacsi Assistive Systems (joan.black@tacsi-assistivesytems.com) are contracted by the state to educate people on assistance for people who are hard of hearing, and supplied information for this article.
Katherine Leith is the information and assistance specialist for the Orange County Department on Aging. She can be reached at kleith@co.orange.nc.us or 968-2082.